Letters: Train tech delay

Train tech delay

As we await findings of the investigation into the tragic Amtrak accident in Washington state, Americans can be assured that train travel remains extremely safe. Yet we can be even safer. Important technology, called positive train control (PTC), will help by allowing trains to communicate with one another and the infrastructure to potentially avoid collisions and over-speed derailments.

So why, in 2015, did Congress act overwhelmingly and President Obama sign a law to extend the PTC implementation deadline?

It’s simple. The technology was not ready, and the impact of a rail system shutdown was too devastating. When PTC was mandated, there was no off-the-shelf solution. PTC was a complex, undeveloped communication technology, composed of more than 20 mostly first-generation components. It all needed to be installed on more than 68,000 miles of track by 40 private and public railroads that all communicate but operate independently.

By fall 2015, it was clear the initial December 2015 deadline could not be met by passenger, commuter and freight railways. Aside from technological complexity, the Government Accountability Office and the Federal Railroad Administration found many challenges necessitating an extension. System testing was not complete, safety plans hadn’t been approved by government, and the communication spectrum wasn’t available.

Maintaining the original deadline, without regard to reality, would have halted trains nationwide, crippling the economy while disturbing millions of daily commuters and disrupting food, energy and clean water supplies. One report concluded that just a one-month rail shutdown would have reduced the nation’s gross domestic product growth by 2.6%, placing 700,000 jobs at risk.

Instead, congressional Republicans and Democrats agreed to extend the deadline to December 2018. Meanwhile, billions continue to be invested to properly implement this technology under government oversight.

Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Pa

Chairman, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Inspiring speaker

We want to thank Marc Mero, former WWE Wrestling champion and author of “How to be the Happiest Person on the Planet,” for visiting the Greencastle-Antrim School District on December 11th.

Mr. Mero did a presentation for our sixth – 12th grade students titled “Champion of Choices.” The focus was on students making positive choices and achieving their highest potential, also discussing with them how to handle bullying inside the schools and cyber-bullying outside of school.

Mr. Mero’s “Time is Now!” Tour reaches students at a level and gives them tools and inspiration to face everyday challenges and view their life from a new perspective. Some of the benefits from his presentation teach students to have hope for a brighter tomorrow by discovering their life passion, setting goals, and becoming the champions they are destined to be.

As the founder of the nonprofit organization, Champion of Choices, Marc dedicates his life to helping others be the “champion” they are destined to be. The time is now! Get ready to be inspired!

A special “thank you” to Greg and Cherie Weaver of Antrim Way Honda for sponsoring Mr. Mero’s visit.

Dr. Robert Crider, Chief Educational Officer

Greencastle-Antrim School District

Help someone else

Let's forget about (at least for the Christmas season), all the men being accused of inappropriate actions toward women, people hating each other, having to be politically correct with our language, people abusing others in one way or another, all the hate toward our president and all the ways our country is going in the wrong direction and concentrate on the reason for the season, the birth of our Savior!

Despite all the idiotic actions of our government leaders, we should find something to do for someone every day, help your neighbor, call someone who lives alone, bake some goodies for someone who may not be able to bake, in traffic, let someone pull ahead of you, etc. There are so many ways we can continue to make our world a better place.